MANAGER'S VERDICT: MIDDLESBROUGH

15 August 2017

Nigel Powlson

NIGEL Clough praised his team for the effort they put in against a quality Middlesbrough team.

The Albion boss said: "I thought the lads were brilliant tonight.

"We started the game well and we started the second half really well and were so unlucky with their second goal. We got men out to block the shot but it drops for them, Stephen Bywater makes a great save but it drops to them again.

"We were unlucky in so many ways. They had very few opportunities against us. We defended very well and we looked a threat on our breaks and with a bit more quality one of our chances goes in, then you never know.

"We had Turner, Boyce, Irvine and Warnock out and lost John Mousinho straining a hamstring yesterday. To come here without those five players and do as well as we did I can't tell you how pleased with the players we are.

"It's a frustration having those players out but we are pleased with the players who have come in and worked their socks off.

"We have played two of the relegated Premier League sides away from home so it's good to get those out of the way and it's two home games we are looking forward to now."

In terms of the red card for Hope Akpan, Clough said the Brewers might be "on the end of another harsh one".

"We certainly want to look at it again. The worst tackle of the game was after ten minutes on Matty Lund and Garry Monk agreed that was a red card."

Clough is hoping to add to his depleted squad before the transfer wndow closes and revealed after the game that he is attempting to bring striker Cauley Woodrow back in on loan.